10 creative things to do with wine besides drink it

Alicia is a writer and editor who spends entirely too much time on the computer and is convinced that wine makes her more productive. She has a passion for giving back which typically involves weekends spent with sick children or a home...

If you live in a world where there's leftover wine, here's what to do with it

It's hard to imagine a world where perfectly good wine could go to waste, but hey, it happens to the best of us. Don't even think about pouring that leftover wine down the drain before you discover some new things to do with it.

It seems a bit ridiculous to do anything with wine besides drink it. We love our wine drinking so much we've dedicated an entire holiday to the task. However, there are those times when you host a party and one too many bottles are opened or the times when you open a bottle only to find it isn't good anymore. Of course, you could choke it down and bear that acidic taste, all the while knowing you aren't wasting those precious last sips. Luckily there is an alternative where no wine goes to waste and you don't have to spend your evening toasting with vinegar.

Here are the top 10 things you can do with that not-so-good wine besides drink it.

1. Soften your skin

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The antioxidants that give red wine its glory in health circles are equally beneficial for your skin. Use leftover wine as a toner, or dump it into your bathwater and soak the night away. You may not get a buzz, but you'll be left with baby-soft skin. If we find out it can get rid of wrinkles, we may never actually drink wine again.

2. Clean your veggies

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Add wine to a spray bottle, and use it to clean your fruits and veggies. The alcohol in wine will remove impurities far better than water will. It can even kill serious bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. Let's hope it even makes those veggies taste better.

3. Clean up

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Leftover white wine makes a great disinfectant for your kitchen. The alcohol combined with the acidity can remove stains and kill germs without all the harsh chemicals of standard cleaners. Just be careful, as the acidity can damage some countertops like granite. You can also use white wine as a glass cleaner.

4. Spill control

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You know that awkward moment when you spill your glass of red wine on your neighbor's freshly cleaned beige carpeting? It happens to the best of us. But never fear — white wine to the rescue! Pour a glass of white wine over the stain, and quickly blot it up with a clean towel.

5. Marinate for your health

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You may not think marinating your steak in wine is any sort of new discovery; perhaps you've even done it. But what you may not know is that marinating it for six hours in wine can cut the cancer-causing compounds formed during frying or grilling by up to 90 percent. It can also make your meat more flavorful and juicy.